Platform ladder



s pfi. 12, 1939. E WEAVER 2,172,860

PLATFORM LADDER Filed Dec. l9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Far/ 4. Weave/ AT ORNEY$ Patented Sept. 12, 1939 PLATFORM LADDER Earl L.Weaver, Goshen, Ind., assignor to Goshen Manufacturing Company, Goshen,Ind.

Application.December 19, 1938; Serial-N0. 246,683

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in platform ladders. m 1

Themain objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a stepladder of the platform type especially adaptedfor painters and" other workmen requiring the use of tools or implementsin the performanceof their Work.

Second, to provide a stepladder of the platform type which, whilecomparatively light in weight, is very rigid, the ladder being providedwith parts which constitute guard rails for the workers platform.

Third, to provide a ladder of the character described having theseseveral advantages which is quite compact when collapsed. a

Fourth, to provide a stepladder which'is very rigid when erected, theparts being arranged to effectively sustain the thrust to which theladder is subjected in use. g

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the descriptionto follow. The invention isdefined in-the,

claims. r

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the" accompany ing drawings in which: P

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view oi-my improved ladder.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View with the ladder collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the ladder erected.

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged fragmentary top vieww Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsection on line 5' 5| of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 6 isa horizontal section on line 6- 6"-of Fig. 3.. Fig. 7 is afragmentary section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig.- 8 is a fragmentary view sectioned on line offlFig .3; 'Theembodiment of my'invention illustrated comprises" apair oi risers I, lwith the steps -2 arranged between them, the ends-of the steps being'mortise'dinto the risers and the risers clamped upon-the stepsby meansof the combined tie bolts and truss -rods"*3. Braces 4 are provided forthe top step. In the structure illustrated there are only threesteps andaplat'form 5 which constitutes a step, but it willbe understood that theheight of the -ladder is regulated by the work for which it isdesignedto be used.

The risers are provided with extension bars 6, 6, the lower ends ofwhichare lapped'upon the outer sides-of the risers receiving thecombined tie and-truss rod 3 for the upperstep and the bolt or tie rod-I which constitutes a pivot for the platform '5; The platform is made upwith suitable top boards and sills or supporting bars 8 which areengaged With the rod I. The riser extensions are formed integrally as aU-shaped member, thebight 9 thereof constituting a cross memberconnecting the upper ends of the bars as is clearlyshown in thedrawings.

The riser extension bars 6 have horizontally disposed top portions ladapted to support the table I I. This table in the embodimentillustrated is a board having grooved edges I2 receiving the tierods orbolts 83 and I4 extending between the top portions of the extensionbars. It will be noted that the rear tie rod I l-is spaced from thecross portion 9 of the riser extensions but it is suflibiently closethereto that the space I is adapted to receive the handles of paintbrushes, for instance, andsupport them in convenient reach of theworkman. The cross member 9 serves as atool support with which hammers,pliers orother tools may be engaged.

' 'Ihe-tie-rod l4 also serves as a support for the struts" or legslfiv'vhich are pivoted thereon to be swung to erected position as shownin Fig. 1, or to collapsed position shown in Fig. 2. These struts are'providedwithupperand lower cross members each consisting of aboard-like member I! having grooves 18 in the edges thereof receivingthe tie rods l9. The members I! are arranged with-theirends in abuttingrelation to the strut so that when the tie rods are tightened the risersare drawn up firmly against the ends of the members H which serve aseffective bracing and cross members, Combined washer and tie plates 20are preferably employed for each pair of tie rods l9.

The struts are further braced by means of the crossed braces 2| whichare secured to the board members of the cross members as by screws 22,the ends of these braces being cut as shown in Fig; 3 so that they abutthe inner sides of'the struts.

To automatically swing the platform to erected position when the strutsare swung rearwardly or to erected position I provide a pair of links 23which are pivoted to the platform bars at 24 and engaged with the uppertie bolt IQ of the upper cross member as shown in Fig. 7.

-The tie bolt 1 is provided with a spreader 25 to prevent the tighteningof the bolt and the clamping engagement of the platform. When the ladderis erected the riser extension bars serve as guard rails for theplatform.

To support the struts in erected position I provide a pair of stretcherseach consisting of a pair of links 26 and 21 pivotally connected to eachother at 28. The links 26 are pivoted to the risers at 29 while thelinks 2'! are pivoted to the struts at 30. Stops 3| are provided on theoverlapping ends of the links 26 to limit the downward movement of thepivoted ends of the links. When the ladder is erected these stretchersare actuated to the position shown in Fig. 1, and to collapse the ladderthe pivot joint between the links is broken by an upward pull thereonwhich permits the ladder to be collapsed as shown in Fig. 2.

The parts of my improved ladder are arranged so that they areeffectively braced and this perrial without sacrificing strength.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describecertain.

modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to adapt my invention asmay be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the outer sides ofsaid risers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U shaped member the bight ofwhich is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member, a worktable disposed between the top portions of said riser extensions inspaced relation to said cross member thereof tocoact therewith inproviding an implement holder, said work table'comprising a board havinglongitudinally grooved edges and tie bolts extending between the riserextensions in engagement with said grooves, struts pivotally engagedwith the rearward of said table supDQrting tie bolts, top and bottomcross members connecting said struts,

each cross member comprising a vertically disposed board-like memberdisposed between the struts with their ends abutting the innersidesthereof and having longitudinal grooves in their edges and tie rodsengaged in said grooves and extending through the struts, combinedwasher and tie plates common to the pairs of cross member tie rods, aplatform pivoted between the upper ends of the risers and adapted whenerected to rest on the upper of said cross members, links pivotallyconnected to said platform and to said struts to permit an upward andforward collapsing movement of the platform, said links being pivoted onthe upper tie rod' of the upper cross member, and crossed braces securedto the board portions of said cross members with their ends in abuttingrelation to the inner sides of the struts.

2. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the outer sides ofsaid risers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U shaped member the bight ofwhich is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member, a worktable disposed between the top portions of said riser extensions inspaced relation to said cross member thereof to coact therewith inproviding an implement holder, said work table comprising a board havinglongitudinally grooved edges and tie bolts extending between the riserextensions in engagement with said grooves, struts pivotally engagedwith the rearward of said table supporting tie bolts, top and bottomcross members connecting said struts, each cross member comprising avertically disposed board-like member disposed between the struts withtheir ends abutting the inner sides thereof and having longitudinalgrooves in their edges and tie rods engaged in said grooves andextending through the struts, combined washer and tie plates common tothe pairs of cross member tie rods, a platform pivoted between the upperends of the risers and adapted when erected to rest on the upper of saidcross members, and links pivotally connected to said platform and tosaid struts to permit an upward and forward collapsing movement of theplatform, said links being pivoted on the upper tie rod of the uppercross member.

3. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the outer sides ofsaid risers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U shaped member the bight ofwhich is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member, a worktable disposed between the top portions of said riser extensions inspaced relation to said cross member thereof to coact therewith inproyiding an implement holder, said work table comprising a board havinglongitudinally grooved edges and tie bolts extending between the riserextensions in engagement with said grooves, struts pivotally engagedwith the rearward of said table supporting tie bolts, cross membersconnecting said struts, and a platform pivoted between the upp ends ofthe risers and adapted when erected to rest on one of said crossmembers.

v 4. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the sides ofsaid/risers and having rearwardly'projecting top portions, said riserextensions being fomed integrallyas a U shaped member the bight of whichis disposed at the top and constitutes a cross membenstruts pivotallysecured to said riser extension, topand bottom cross members connectingsaid struts, each cross member comprising a vertically disposedboard-like member disposed between thestruts with the ends thereofabutting the inner sides of the struts and having longitudinal groovesin their edges and tie rods engaged in said grooves and extendir'gthrough the struts, combined washer and tie plates common to the pairsof cross member tie rods, a platform pivotedbetween the; upper ends ofthe risers and adapted when erected to rest on the upper of said crossmerry bers, and crossed braces secured to the board portions of saidcross members with their ends in abutting relation to the inner sides ofthe struts.

5. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the sides of saidrisers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U-shaped member the bight ofwhich is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member, strutspivotally secured to said riser extension, top and bottom cross membersconnecting said struts, each cross member comprising avertically'disposed board-like member disposed between the struts withthe ends thereof abutting the inner sides of the struts and havinglongitudinal grooves in their edges and tie rods engaged in said groovesand extending through the struts, combined washer and tie plates commonto the pairs of 76 cross member tie rods, and a platform pivoted betweenthe upper ends of the risers and adapted when erected to rest on theupper of said cross members.

6. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the sides of saidrisers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U-shaped member the bightportion of which is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member,struts pivotally secured to said riser extension, cross membersconnecting said struts, a platform pivoted between the upper ends of therisers and adapted when erected to rest on one of the last named crossmembers, and crossed braces secured to said cross members with theirends in abutting relation to the inner sides of the struts.

7. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps fixedlysecured between them, riser extension bars secured to the outer sides ofsaid risers and having rearwardly projecting top portions, said riserextensions being formed integrally as a U-shaped member the bightportion of which is disposed at the top and constitutes a cross member,struts pivotally secured to said riser extension, cross membersconnecting said struts, combined washer and tie plates common to thepairs of cross member tie rods, a platform pivoted between the upperends of the risers and adapted when erected to rest on the upper of saidcross members, links pivotally connected to said platform and to saidstruts to permit an upwardrand forward collapsing movement of theplatform, said links being pivoted on the upper tie rod of the uppercross member, and a pair of collapsible spreaders extending between saidstruts and risers and each comprising a pair of pivotally connectedlinks pivotally connected to the struts and risers, one link of eachpair being relation to said transverse member to coact therewith inproviding an implement holder, struts pivotally connected to said riserextension bars, cross members connecting said struts, and a platformpivoted between the risers and adapted when erected. to rest on one ofthe cross members.

9. In a stepladder, the combination of risers having steps securedbetween them, riser extension bars secured to said risers, said riserextension bars being constituted by an integral U- shaped member havingthe bight thereof at the top of the ladder and constituting a transversemember, and a work table disposed between the top portions of said riserextension bars in spaced relation to said transverse member to coacttherewith in providing an implement holder.

EARL L. WEAVER.

